Alton schools: Strike not looming

Negotiations continue after teachers reject contract offer

ALTON — The Alton School District has no comment about a Sept. 18 vote in which teachers overwhelmingly voted against the district’s latest contract offer.

During the vote last Friday, 90 percent of teachers voted against the district’s offer. A copy of that offer obtained by the Telegraph shows the district offered teachers a 1.4 percent pay increase “across the board” and “lane movement” for education. It stated there would be no changes in retirement or insurance and took away step movement, which rewards teachers in the district for longevity and continuing education.

According to the Alton School District’s financial director, Christopher Norman, who is the lead on contract negotiations for the district, the school has “exhausted all reserves” financially. He said $10.7 million in working cash bonds sold last year were required to meet several expenses, including payroll.

“$4.2 million of that was used to cover last year’s deficit and this year’s deficit is already over $2 million,” Norman said in an email. “However, we are committed to our continued work with the AEA (Alton Education Association) in reaching a contract that is also fiscally responsible given our current financial state.”

The district’s current financial state was grimly reflected during the Sept. 15 meeting of the Alton Board of Education. Alton School District Supt. Dr. Kenneth Spells announced at that meeting the Alton School District would move toward attendance centers based on grade levels for the 2016-17 school year. This move would save the district money by eliminating the need for so many teachers. Norman said that move may affect contract negotiations.

“It could (affect contract negotiations), but at this point, that remains to be seen,” he said. “It would depend upon the length of the contract and the cost reductions realized by going that route.”

The financial crisis being realized by the Alton School District may be one of the biggest factors behind their offering of what AEA President Brenda Powers called “their worst offer yet.”

“There have been a variety of factors that have gone into the financial situation,” Norman said. “Regardless of what offers the district may want to make, we have already lost over $6.5 million in operating fund revenue the last four years due to reductions in property values. In addition, due to pro-rated state funding, the district has also lost state revenues exceeding $10.5 million over the last six years. The district absolutely respects the jobs the staff are performing, the unfortunate reality is that with those reductions, the district has been forced to borrow to pay bills versus making devastating cuts.”

In a previous interview with the Telegraph, Powers said teachers willingly made sacrifices with their last contract due to the district’s financial troubles.

Currently, both the district and the AEA are scheduling a second round of negotiations with a federal mediator. Norman said the possibility of a strike is not looming.

“At this point in the process we are still negotiating,” he said. “No one has declared an impasse or made what has been termed a ‘final offer.’ Those things would have to occur before that word would begin to enter the conversation.”

Reporter Cory Davenport can be reached at 618-208-6447 or on Twitter @CoryTelegraphs.